Tofinou 8 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a used Tofinou 8 means looking at a 26ft 2in Joubert/Nivelt daysailer from Latitude 46 that prizes looks and feel in equal measure. These are not stripped racers but finished weekenders, and the used examples carry a recognizable set of equipment and a few specific things to check before you commit.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every Tofinou 8 shares the same essential plan: a hand-laid E-glass hull with frames and stringers, a cored deck, and a swing keel as the standard underwater profile anchor. A fixed 5ft 6in keel with a ballast bulb was offered for those wanting more righting moment, so you will occasionally find a fixed-keel boat among the swing-keel majority. The cuddy opens on gas struts to a compact cabin with V-berth, settee benches, and space for a chemical toilet, while the auxiliary sits under the cabin sole.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Teak decks, a self-tacking jib, and a short-handed control setup are commonly fitted, making most boats ready for single- or double-handed sailing without further work. An autopilot is often seen as a pragmatic addition on brokerage examples. For keel handling, the standard clever hydraulics may be supplemented by an electrical keel-control system offered as an option. Carbon rig parts appear as upgrades—a retractable carbon bowsprit is standard, and a carbon mast was available—which lightens the rig for better light-air response.
What to Inspect
The swing keel's hydraulic deployment and retrieval is the system most worth a careful look; verify the keel moves smoothly and holds position, since the cleverly engineered hydraulics are central to the design anchor. Check the teak cockpit and foredeck and the mahogany coamings for condition, remembering the mahogany is removable for maintenance and should show no neglected varnish work. Confirm the hinged cuddy gas struts still hold the lid and that the cabin sole access to the 9hp Yanmar is sound.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up across Italy, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada, Spain, and Switzerland. For a buyer, the short list is: confirm keel hydraulics service freely; inspect teak and removable mahogany; verify gas-strut cuddy and sole access; choose swing or fixed keel to match your waterline needs; expect teak, self-tacker, and short-handed setup as standard, with autopilot often added.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Tofinou 8. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 12 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 25 | 2 | $90,376 | — |
| Sep 25 | 4 | $109,571 | +21.2% |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $88,606 | -19.1% |
| Dec 25 | 2 | $99,822 | +12.7% |
| Jan 26 | 2 | $94,499 | -5.3% |
| Feb 26 | 6 | $89,167 | -5.6% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $82,998 | -6.9% |
| Apr 26 | 5 | $89,167 | +7.4% |
| May 26 | 2 | $94,775 | +6.3% |
| Jun 26 | 3 | $78,886 | -16.8% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $85,456 | +8.3% |
| Sep 26 | 3 | $88,500 | +3.6% |
Where they're listed
Tofinou 8 listings appear across 8 countries. Italy has the most listings with 8 (32.0%), followed by United Kingdom and Netherlands.
Country view
25 listings · 8 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | $82,998 | 8 | 1 | 32.0% |
| United Kingdom | $99,435 | 6 | 0 | 24.0% |
| Netherlands | $89,167 | 4 | 0 | 16.0% |
| Canada | $80,578 | 2 | 2 | 8.0% |
| Spain | $103,187 | 2 | 0 | 8.0% |
| Switzerland | $84,367 | 1 | 0 | 4.0% |
| Germany | $61,688 | 1 | 0 | 4.0% |
| United States | $88,500 | 1 | 1 | 4.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tofinou 8You are here | — | $ 88,606 | 26 | 4 |
| Saffier SC 8 M | 27.89' | $ 133,470 | 15 | 4 |
| Jeanneau Tonic 23 | 23.94' | $ 11,182 | 12 | 3 |
| Tofinou 7 | 23' | $ 17,966 | 6 | 3 |
| Tofinou Tadorne | 26.25' | $ 84,900 | 5 | 3 |